A chilly April Saturday found me and several other parents, along with some teenage boys, standing behind tables in the midst of a giant yard sale to benefit our Scout troop, which needed additional funds for summer camp.

As we perused donated items in hopes of finding a bargain ourselves, a Scout approached a table filled with kitchenware, knickknacks and miscellaneous items.

"What's this?" he asked, picking up a curious looking metal object with a keyboard.

I interrupted the conversation, recounting how I had used one just like it during my college years to painstakingly type every paper and essay.

"How does it work?" the first Scout asked.

There was no power cord.

As they toyed with the keyboard, I explained that when a key is depressed, the raised letter on a metal typebar strikes the paper, transferring the letter's image onto the paper.

"But how do you know when the ink is low?" he asked.

I chuckled inside. There are no ink cartridges. And unlike a computer, a typewriter has no alert window that pops up with a "low ink" warning.

I pointed to the black, inky ribbon, explaining how it moves from one spool to the other, and that over time, the letters appear lighter on the paper, signaling the need to purchase a new ribbon.

"I wonder if you can even buy those anymore," he said.

They examined the machine closely, reacting with awe as they discovered that the shift key manually lowers the entire carriage to create capital letters.

They also were amazed at how the margins are set by using the mechanical tabs on the carriage, and how the entire carriage, paper scrolled inside, moves as you type.

"How does it know when to go back to the left side of the page?" one of them asked.

On a typewriter, a small bell rings to let you know you're near the end of a typewritten line. As I started to explain, they located the carriage return lever, which, when pushed, moves the paper down one line and back to the left.

"Maybe I'll take it to school on Monday instead of my netbook," he joked. "It has about the same functionality."

Actually, it had slightly more functionality. The typewriter worked; his netbook didn't.

He paid $2 and put his new purchase to use that same day, typing a speech for church -- the old-fashioned way.

The decades-old portable Royal typewriter was just one of the many unwanted household items and pieces of used clothing sold that day.

Some big-ticket items were sold as well, including an automatic-shifting bicycle, dog cages and a pair of child car seats.

Despite the overcast skies, temperatures in the mid-40s and 16 mph winds, the Scouts managed to reach their camp fund-raising goal.

And for those who have been waiting for warmer weather, the yard sale season can now begin in earnest.

Here are some ideas that helped us have a successful sale:

Yard sale tips

Choose a location. One next to a heavily traveled road will bring more prospective customers. You may want to combine with other families for your sale. Be sure to advertise that fact if you do.

Get a permit. Some cities require one. Be sure to check with your municipality.

Advertise. Put your ad in The Chronicle and on the Internet at mlive.com. Spread the word via email and Facebook. Post fliers at local grocery stores, your church and other public places where permitted. Post signs on the day of the sale.

Prepare for the weather. It can still rain even if you plan your yard sale for a warm, clear day. Can you set up in the garage? Under a large canopy? Do you have tarps to protect items from rain?

Create your own tables. A couple of planks or a large piece of plywood on top of a pair of sawhorses, covered with a sheet, makes a great display table.

Price all items. Use small stickers. Or if you have several items selling for the same price, say $1, put them on the same table with a sign reading, "All items on this table $1." That will save you the trouble of attaching a sticker to every item.

Price items to sell. Be realistic. You may have an emotional attachment to your ice-fishing shanty, but does someone else really want it for $25? Would you rather get rid of shirts and blouses for 25 cents each or take the trouble to load up all those unsold clothes to haul to the thrift store?

Put children's toys on the ground. Display toys in a kiddie swimming pool or in cardboard boxes on the ground where children can see them.

Don't forget change. Keep coins and small bills handy.

Don't leave money or valuable items unattended.

Food is good. Even if prospective customers don't buy anything else, they might purchase a cookie or some lemonade -- in localities where it's permitted.

Use plastic grocery bags for bagging sold items.

Grab bags. If you have many items remaining as the sale nears its end, consider offering grab bags -- everything that can fit in a bag for one price.

Clean up. Pack up everything that's left and donate it to a charity or thrift store. Some charities will even come and pick up your unsold items. If you keep good records and get a receipt from the charitable group, you'll be able to deduct the value of items you donate on your federal tax return.